iLocater is a new, near-infrared, extreme precision radial velocity (EPRV) spectrograph under construction for the dual 8.4m diameter Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). The instrument uses single-mode fibers (SMFs) injected with adaptive optics for illumination. We present the integration process for the spectrograph and cryostat systems, and the laboratory performance testing that has been completed. Testing has included optical performance characterization at ambient and cryogenic temperatures, assessment of cryogenic thermal control of the system (80-100K) at sub-mK level, and instrument detector performance (an H4RG-10). The optimized spectrograph and cryostat system will be delivered to the LBT in 2024.
We describe the on-sky performance of the robotic Focal Plane System (FPS) units that replace the fiber plug-plate systems at the Sloan and duPont telescopes for the SDSS-V survey. The first FPS was arrived at Apache Point in December 2021, and the second unit will be delivered to Las Campanas in spring 2022. Each FPS carries 500 zonal fiber positioners carrying three fibers: two science fibers for the BOSS and APOGEE spectrographs and a back-illuminated metrology fiber. The FPS enables the SDSS-V Milky Way and Black Hole Mapper surveys that will begin survey operations in 2022.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V) is an all-sky spectroscopic survey of < 6 million objects, designed to decode the history of the Milky Way, reveal the inner workings of stars, investigate the origin of solar systems, and track the growth of supermassive black holes across the Universe. Collaboratively, organizations across both academia and industry have partnered to overcome technical challenges and execute operational directives associated with commissioning the various mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems of SDSS-V. While this type of collaboration is not unique, the scale and complexity of next generation astronomical instruments is an emerging challenge that requires industrial systems and process engineering practices at a quasi-industrial scale. Driven by the success of multiplexed spectroscopic surveys, instrumentation is evolving to include systems with hundreds to thousands of components and sub-assemblies procured or produced from various sources. This trend requires the adoption of new and existing processes and best practices in the design, integration, and test of next generation astronomical instruments. The following discussion outlines those industrial systems and process engineering processes, methods, and practices, currently in the operational phase, for the design, integration, and test of the SDSS-V Focal Plane System (FPS). An emphasis is placed on processes, methods, and practices related to coordination of multiple contract manufacturing vendors and operational execution of small batch manufacturing.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V) is an all-sky spectroscopic survey of ≥ 6 million objects, designed to decode the history of the Milky Way, reveal the inner workings of stars, investigate the origin of solar systems, and track the growth of supermassive black holes across the Universe.1 The robotic Focal Plane System (FPS)2 will carry 500 robots each with three fibers for science and metrology. The science fibers feed the BOSS3 and APOGEE4 spectrographs, while the metrology fibers are back illuminated to aid in robot positioning. Blind initial x/y positional precision of the robots is expected to be better than 50µm. The robots must position the fibers to better than 5µm in order to meet the science requirements. The FPS fiber viewing camera (FVC) consists of optomechanical components that look back through the telescope optics at light from back-lit fiducial and metrology fibers to measure the positions of the robots in the telescope focal plane. The FVC takes an image of the robots in the telescope focal plane, measures their positions to an accuracy of better than 3µm, and then feeds back error commands to the robot control system to meet the 5µm positional requirement. This paper details the optomechanical design, and initial results of an engineering run on the du Pont telescope.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V) is an all-sky spectroscopic survey of <6 million objects, designed to decode the history of the Milky Way, reveal the inner workings of stars, investigate the origin of solar systems, and track the growth of supermassive black holes across the Universe. This paper describes the design and construction of two robotic Focal Plane System (FPS) units that will replace the traditional SDSS fiber plug-plate systems at the Sloan and du Pont telescopes for SDSS-V. Each FPS deploys 500 zonal fiber positioners that allow us to reconfigure the fibers onto a new target field within 2-3 minutes of acquisition. Each positioner carries three fibers: two science fibers that feed the BOSS and APOGEE spectrographs and a third back-illuminated metrology fiber is used in conjunction with a telescopemounted Fiber Viewing Camera (FVC) to measure the absolute positions of the fiber heads. The 300 APOGEE fibers are distributed among the 500 positioners to maximize common field coverage. A set of fiber-illuminated fiducials distributed in and around the positioner array establish a fixed reference frame for the FVC system. Finally, six CCD cameras mounted around the periphery of the focal plane provide acquisition, guiding, and focus monitoring functions. The FPS is a key enabling technology of the SDSS-V Milky Way and Black Hole Mapper surveys.
We describe the design, construction and measured performance of the Kitt Peak Ohio State Multi-Object Spectrograph
(KOSMOS) for the 4-m Mayall telescope and the Cerro Tololo Ohio State Multi-Object Spectrograph (COSMOS) for
the 4-m Blanco telescope. These nearly identical imaging spectrographs are modified versions of the OSMOS
instrument; they provide a pair of new, high-efficiency instruments to the NOAO user community. KOSMOS and
COSMOS may be used for imaging, long-slit, and multi-slit spectroscopy over a 100 square arcminute field of view with
a pixel scale of 0.29 arcseconds. Each contains two VPH grisms that provide R~2500 with a one arcsecond slit and their
wavelengths of peak diffraction efficiency are approximately 510nm and 750nm. Both may also be used with either a
thin, blue-optimized CCD from e2v or a thick, fully depleted, red-optimized CCD from LBNL. These instruments were
developed in response to the ReSTAR process. KOSMOS was commissioned in 2013B and COSMOS was
commissioned in 2014A.
The Multi-Object Double Spectrographs (MODS) are two identical high-throughput optical dichroic-split double-beam
low- to medium-dispersion CCD spectrometers being deployed at the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). They operate in
the 3200-10500Å range at a nominal resolution of λ/δλ≈2000. MODS1 saw first-light at the LBT in September 2010,
finished primary commissioning in May 2011, and began regular partner science operations in September 2011. MODS2
is being readied for delivery and installation at the end of 2012. This paper describes the on-sky performance of MODS1
and presents highlights from the first year of science operations.
We present the design for the 340 Mpixel KMTNet CCD camera comprising four newly developed e2v CCD290-99
imaging sensors mounted to a common focal plane assembly. The high performance CCDs have 9k x 9k format, 10
micron pixels, and multiple outputs for rapid readout time. The camera Dewar is cooled using closed cycle coolers and
vacuum is maintained with a cryosorption pump. The CCD controller electronics, the electronics cooling system, and the
camera control software are also described.
The Multi-Object Double Spectrographs (MODS) are two identical high-throughput optical low- to medium-resolution
CCD spectrometers being deployed at the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). Operating in the 340-1000nm range, they
use a large dichroic to split light into separately-optimized red and blue channels that feature reflective collimators and
decentered Maksutov-Schmidt cameras with monolithic 8×3K CCD detectors. A parallel infrared laser closed-loop
image motion compensation system nulls spectrograph flexure giving it high calibration stability. The two MODS
instruments may be operated together with digital data combination as a single instrument giving the LBT an effective
aperture of 11.8-meter, or separately configured to flexibly use the twin 8.4-meter apertures. This paper describes the
properties and performance of the completed MODS1 instrument. MODS1 was delivered to LBT in May 2010 and is
being prepared for first-light in September 2010.
The recently commissioned system for aluminizing the 8.408 meter diameter Large Binocular
Telescope mirrors has a variety of unusual features. Among them are aluminizing the mirror in the
telescope, the mirror is horizon pointing when aluminized, boron nitride crucibles are used for the
sources, only 28 sources are used, the sources are powered with 280 Volts at 20 kHz, high vacuum
is produced with a LN2 cooled charcoal cryo-panel, an inflatable edge seal is used to isolate the
rough vacuum behind the mirror from the high vacuum space, and a burst disk is mounted in the
center hole to protect the mirror from overpressure. We present a description of these features.
Results from aluminizing both primary mirrors are presented.
Ohio State is building two identical Multi-Object Double Spectrographs (MODS), one for each of the f/15 Gregorian foci of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). Each MODS is a high-throughput optical low- to medium-resolution CCD spectrometer operating in the 320-1000nm range with a 6.5-arcminute field-of-view. A dichroic distributes the science beam into separately-optimized red and blue channels that provide for direct imaging and up to 3 spectroscopic modes per channel. The identical MODS instruments may be operated together with digital data combination as a single instrument giving the LBT an effective aperture of 11.8-meter, or separately configured to flexibly use the twin 8.4-meter apertures. This paper describes progress on the integration and testing of MODS1, and plans for the deployment of MODS2 by the end of 2008 at the LBT.
We are building a Multi-Object Double Spectrograph for the Large Binocular Telescope. The instrument is designed to have high throughput from 320 to 1000 nm, spectral resolutions of 1,000-10,000, and multi-object capability over a 6 arcminute field. The design incorporates a dichroic and splits the science beam into a blue and a red channel, each of which can illuminate an 8,192 pixel long detector (with 15 micron pixels) with good image quality. The highly modular design can hold up to three gratings and an imaging flat and a selection of filters in each channel, all of which are quickly accessible; this allows for substantial observing flexibility. Progress on the construction of the instrument and future plans will be described.
We describe an instrument that is capable of taking simultaneous images at one optical (UBVRI) and one near-infrared (JHK) wavelength. The instrument uses relatively simple optics and a dichroic to image the same field on to an optical CCD and an HgCdTe array. The mechanical and thermal design is similar to previous instruments built by our group and the array controllers are based on the same architecture. The instrument has been in use for the past four years on the CTIO/Yale 1m telescope in Chile and has an excellent operational/reliability record. A number of notable science results have been obtained with the instrument; especially interesting are several photometric monitoring projects that have been possible, since the instrument is available every night on the telescope.
The ISL is a successful astronomical instrumentation program that has completed three major instruments and many smaller projects since 1987. We have developed the capabilities to perform all aspects of instrument design and construction and a range of unique skills and methods. We maintain a permanent staff that currently consists of two scientists specializing in optical design and detector systems, a seniors mechanical engineer, a programmer, an electronic engineer, a mechanical designer, two machinists, and a lab assistant. Instrumentation projects also draw upon faculty and graduate student effort.
The Ohio State Instrument Control and IMage ACquisition System, ICIMACS, is the computer hardware and software used by all instruments developed by the Imaging Science Laboratory (ISL) to control the detector, pre-process data, record image data on a separate computer system for data reduction and analysis, generate real time data display, control the mechanisms within an instrument, interface with the telescope controller, connect to a user interface, and perform engineering functions such as temperature or pressure logging. ICIMACS has now been used on 12 different instruments and is herein described as applied to 'MOSAIC' the near IR imager/spectrometer in use on the Kitt Peak 2.1 and 4 meter telescopes and on the MDM 2.4 and 1.3 meter telescopes.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.